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Dürer's Prodigal Son
The biblical parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11 – 32) tells of a youth who wasted his inheritance on wild living and became so destitute that he envied even the pigs their food. Realizing his foolishness, he repented and returned to his father, who forgave him. Painted by an unknown artist, this plate is a masterpiece of Italian maiolica decoration and an iconic example of the influence of Albrecht Dürer's art in Italy.
As the opposite orientation of the images suggests, the pottery painter did not own Dürer's original print, but a reversed copy of it, highlighting how Dürer's influence was often mediated by the many reproductions of his work that circulated during his lifetime. Despite being derived from a copy, the painter's aesthetic achievement is remarkable: the cool palette and meticulous painting are characteristic of the finest examples of early istoriato ware, with the metallic sheen of the luster adding to its vibrancy. |